Harley Young parties 'All Night Long' with the 80s pop sensation on his first night in Manchester
Who: Lionel Richie
Where: Co-op Live
When: Thursday 12 June 2025
Harley’s thoughts:
Last night (Thursday 12 June), Co-op Live welcomed global icon Lionel Richie for the first of his two back-to-back nights at the arena as part of his ‘Say Hello To The Hits’ tour.
Support came from Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brooke Combe, who, joined by her backing band, had the audience besotted with her soulful, vintage sound and quality lyricism.
Shortly after 9pm, Mr Richie himself graced the stage in true showman style , rising from a trap door on the stage catwalk, surrounded by a puff of smoke, before serenading the crowd with emotional 1983 hit ‘Hello’. The suave 75-year-old superstar continued to strut his stuff, working his way through his discography of billboard-topping records as he raced up and down the catwalk, proving to his adoring fans that he most definitely has still got the moves.
Lionel and his ensemble then whipped the audience into a frenzy with a very fiery rendition of ‘Brick House’ by Commodores, where he admitted that the pyrotechnics might have been “a little too hot”.
The electrifying evening only continued to build from there on, with not a person in the arena remaining in their seats for Dancing On The Ceiling. Once the song had come to an end, Lionel took a moment to soak in the atmosphere and thunderous applause before slowing things back down with ‘Still’, ‘Say You, Say Me’ and ‘We Are The World’.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an evening of his greatest hits without a showstopping performance of ‘All Night Long’, topping off the night in the most Lionel Richie way possible and leaving guests shimmying all the way home.
For the final few tickets to tonight’s show (Friday 13 June) and to see what's coming up at Co-op Live, head to cooplive.com.
Image credits: Dennis Leupold
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